Echocardiographic analysis of a malfunctioning Davila-Sierra mitral valve

Although the Davila-Sierra mitral valve prosthesis was removed from the market nearly a decade ago, a number of patients still have this valve in place. We recently studied the echocardiographic features of a malfunctioning Davila-Sierra mitral valve prosthesis. Abnormalities that suggested improper functioning of the prosthesis included a markedly delayed poppet opening and an early diastolic hump believed to represent motion of the mitral annulus. Previously described echocardiographic indications of dys-function were not observed in our patient. We report the first known echocardiographic evaluation of a Davila-Sierra prosthesis.     

Comparison of the capsular response to the Biocell RTV and Mentor 1600 Siltex breast implant surface texturing: a scanning electron microscopic study.

The utility of mammary prosthesis texturing in the prevention of capsular contracture was established some 20 years ago. Various models of implant texturing are currently on the market. We decided to study two of the most popular implants with two different surface texturings: the Biocell RTV and the Mentor 1600 Siltex. An observation at the electron microscopic level of the implants' surfaces was achieved. At the time of a prospective survey on 10 patients, the capsule fragments corresponding to these two prostheses have been analyzed at the electron microscopic level. All prostheses were removed from the patients because of asymmetry or bad positioning. The aim of our study was to establish a correlation between these two frequent texturing surfaces and their corresponding capsules. Our results showed that only the Biocell's capsules present a mirror image with correspondence of the depressions on the prosthesis and contacts on the capsule. This phenomenon seems linked to the existence of a critical size of the pores constituting the implant surface. This observation leads us to the hypothesis of an adhesive effect between the prosthesis and its capsule. If this last is not directly linked to the prevention of capsular contracture, it can have an effect on implant stabilization in the primary mammary reconstruction and in the secondary corrections of asymmetry or bad position.     

Sexual behaviour is independent of H-Y antigen constitution

Summary The H-Y antigen status was determined in nine transsexual patients. Our results indicate that sexual behaviour is independent of H-Y antigen constitution, in fact all male-to-female transsexual patients typed as H-Y antigen positive, and the female-to-male transsexual patients were H-Y antigen negative.     

Our experience with reconstruction of the breast

Breast reconstruction in female patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer (17 patients) or benign breast disease (2 patients), and malformation of breast due to asymmetry (19 patients) was started in 1983. Mastectomy in 10 patients was performed because of the cancer, and in 17 patients due to benign breast disease. Age of patients ranged from 15 to 58 years. Breast reconstruction was performed within 1-12 years following mastectomy. Two different methods of reconstruction were applied: a) flap graft of patient's own skin and muscle from latissimus muscle of the back with silastic prosthesis implanted under graft (12 breasts), and b) implantation of the prosthesis only (28 breasts). Correction of the opposite breast was also made in 3 patients. No complications are seen up-to-date. Esthetic results are also satisfactory.     

Engineering Platform and Experimental Protocol for Design and Evaluation of a Neurally-controlled Powered Transfemoral Prosthesis

To enable intuitive operation of powered artificial legs, an interface between user and prosthesis that can recognize the user''s movement intent is desired. A novel neural-machine interface (NMI) based on neuromuscular-mechanical fusion developed in our previous study has demonstrated a great potential to accurately identify the intended movement of transfemoral amputees. However, this interface has not yet been integrated with a powered prosthetic leg for true neural control. This study aimed to report (1) a flexible platform to implement and optimize neural control of powered lower limb prosthesis and (2) an experimental setup and protocol to evaluate neural prosthesis control on patients with lower limb amputations. First a platform based on a PC and a visual programming environment were developed to implement the prosthesis control algorithms, including NMI training algorithm, NMI online testing algorithm, and intrinsic control algorithm. To demonstrate the function of this platform, in this study the NMI based on neuromuscular-mechanical fusion was hierarchically integrated with intrinsic control of a prototypical transfemoral prosthesis. One patient with a unilateral transfemoral amputation was recruited to evaluate our implemented neural controller when performing activities, such as standing, level-ground walking, ramp ascent, and ramp descent continuously in the laboratory. A novel experimental setup and protocol were developed in order to test the new prosthesis control safely and efficiently. The presented proof-of-concept platform and experimental setup and protocol could aid the future development and application of neurally-controlled powered artificial legs.     

The canal fill ratio as a factor influencing the aseptic loosening of the Müller-type cemented stem--preliminary report

The Müller type cemented hip prosthesis, also called self-locking prosthesis, is one of the most extensively copied and utilized hip prostheses. Considering the implantation of the cemented stem, the author originally suggested achieving a press fit between the stem and endostal cortex by implanting a prosthesis of the largest possible size. Analyzing our group of patients who undergo aseptic stem revision, we try to quantify the term "press fit" by measuring the filling of the femoral canal by the metal stem, the so-called canal-fill ratio. Our preliminary results suggest that press-fit is achieved when the stem occupies more than 90% of the canal diameter in the anterior-posterior projection.     

Implant-supported palatal lift prosthesis in a patient with velopharyngeal incompetence: a case report

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00561.x Implant‐supported palatal lift prosthesis in a patient with velopharyngeal incompetence: a case report Objective: To describe the use of dental implants in the treatment of velopharyngeal incompetence. Background: Velopharyngeal incompetence is characterized by the inability to contract the tissues of the soft palate. The most common causes are neuromuscular problems resulting from concussion and degenerative conditions of the central nervous system. Materials and methods: The treatment using palatal lift prosthesis is well established in the literature; however, reports on the use of osseointegrated implants are scarce. Rehabilitation using only this type of fibromucosal support is difficult in edentulous patients, since the prosthesis has a palatal lift extension. Results: The implants provided retention and stability to the prosthesis, improving swallowing and speech and contributing to improve the patient’s quality of life. Conclusion: This article reports the rehabilitation of a patient with a totally edentulous maxilla with velopharyngeal incompetence using an implant‐retained palatal lift prosthesis.     

Effect of ill-fitting dentures on the swallowing duration in patients using polygraphy

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00536.x Effect of ill‐fitting dentures on the swallowing duration in patients using polygraphy Background: Surface electromyography (SEMG) has been widely used in the recent years to study swallowing physiology, offering a valid and reliable tool for identifying normal swallowing. The goal of our study was to assess the contribution of denture fitness in the age‐related increase of swallowing duration. Methods: Twenty denture wearers and 20 dentate individuals were analysed using SEMG and a computerised kinesiography of mandibular movement. Three spontaneous saliva swallowings were recorded for each patient with both their old and new prostheses. Three spontaneous saliva swallowings were recorded for each dentate person in two different recording sessions. Results: Old prosthesis mean swallowing time was 1.84 (SD ± 0.85) seconds while the new well‐fitting prostheses needed a 1.28 (SD ± 0.55) (p = 0.0009) swallowing time. The difference in swallowing time was significant (p = 0.01) between dentate subjects and individuals wearing an old prosthesis. No significant difference was found between dentate subjects and the same prosthesis wearers when a new well‐fitting prosthesis was worn. Conclusion: Data presented in this work suggest that part of the increased duration of swallowing showed by elderly and healthy people is because of incorrect an dental prosthesis. Prolongation of swallowing duration in the elderly population could be reconsidered in the light of the quality of dental device worn by the aged population.     

Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术对脊髓型颈椎病患者疗效及颈椎生物力学的影响

目的:探讨Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术对脊髓型颈椎病患者疗效及颈椎生物力学的影响。方法:选取2015年1月到2016年12月期间在我院接受治疗的脊髓型颈椎病患者48例,根据手术方式的不同将其分为植骨融合组(25例)和假体置换组(23例),其中植骨融合组采用颈椎前路减压植骨融合术进行治疗,假体置换组采用Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术进行治疗。比较两组患者的日本骨科协会(JOA)颈椎评分、颈椎功能障碍指数(NDI)评分、视觉模拟疼痛量表(VAS)评分、颈椎生理曲度、颈椎活动度、手术节段活动度、上邻近节段活动度、下邻近节段活动度,并比较两组患者的并发症情况。结果:术后12个月假体置换组的NDI评分明显低于植骨融合组(P0.05);术后6个月、术后12个月植骨融合组的颈椎活动度低于假体置换组(P0.05);术后1个月、术后3个月、术后6个月、术后12个月假体置换组的手术节段活动度高于植骨融合组(P0.05);术后12个月植骨融合组的上邻近节段活动度、下邻近节段活动度高于假体置换组(P0.05);两组患者随访期间颈部轴性症状发生率比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:与颈椎前路减压植骨融合术比较,Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术对脊髓型颈椎病患者的远期疗效更佳,可更好的改善患者的颈椎生物力学,降低颈部轴性症状发生率,值得临床推广应用。     

Replacement of the Aortic and Mitral Valves Using the Starr-Edwards Ball-Valve Prosthesis: A Report of 50 Cases

The aortic and mitral valves were replaced in 50 patients at the University of Alberta Hospital using the Starr-Edwards ball-valve prosthesis. The basis of the selection of 20 patients for isolated aortic valve replacement and 27 for mitral valve replacement using this type of prosthesis is presented, and the techniques of insertion of the aortic and mitral valve are described in detail. Of the 27 patients in whom the mitral valve was replaced by the Starr-Edwards prosthesis six died within 30 days of surgery and two after discharge from hospital at two and a half and four months, respectively. Left atrial thrombosis was the cause of death in four of these patients. In 20 patients in whom the aortic valve was replaced, four died in hospital and two died more than 30 days after returning home. Three of these six patients died from bleeding—the result of the use of anticoagulants. The difficulty in assessing whether or not anticoagulants are needed following replacement by a Starr-Edwards prosthesis is considered. It is felt, in our present state of knowledge, that anticoagulants should be used following mitral valve replacement but are probably not essential following replacement of the aortic valve. Two patients survived replacement of both aortic and mitral valves and have been followed up 18 months and seven months, respectively.     

大直径陶瓷假体用于全髋关节置换术的稳定性和安全性

目的:探讨大直径陶瓷-陶瓷假体对髋关节置换患者术后假体磨损,稳定性和髋关节功能的影响。方法:选取我院2010年1月-2014年1月间采用大直径陶瓷-陶瓷假体行关全髋置换的股骨头坏死患者46例作为研究组。另选40例采用标准金属-聚乙烯假体手术患者作为对照组。观察并比较两组患者假体磨损情况、髋关节稳定性和功能评分。结果:研究组患者术后无一例脱位,发生假体松动1例,Harris评分为(82.04±1.92)分;对照组术后发生假体脱位4例,松动4例,Harris评分为(81.37±1.27)分;研究组假体稳定性和磨损程度优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),但两组髋关节功能评分无显著差异(P0.05)。发生假体松动的患者术后血沉、IL-1和IL-6浓度均高于正常值,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:与标准假体相比,大直径陶瓷-陶瓷假体稳定性好,磨损率低,是全髋置换手术的良好假体。     

Portable PET probes are a novel tool for intraoperative localization of tumor deposits

Background

The emergency treatment of incisional hernias is infrequent but it can be complicated with strangulation or obstruction and in some cases the surgical approach may also include an intestinal resection with the possibility of peritoneal contamination. Our study aims at reporting our experience in the emergency treatment of complicated incisional hernias.

Methods

Since January 1999 till July 2008, 89 patients (55 males and 34 females) were treated for complicated incisional hernias in emergency. The patients were divided in two groups: Group I consisting of 33 patients that were treated with prosthesis apposition and Group II, consisting of 56 patients that were treated by performing a direct abdominal wall muscles suture.

Results

All the patients underwent a 6-month follow up; we noticed 9 recurrences (9/56, 16%) in the patients treated with direct abdominal wall muscles suture and 1 recurrence (1/33, 3%) in the group of patients treated with the prosthesis apposition.

Conclusions

According to our experience, the emergency treatment of complicated incisional hernias through prosthesis apposition is always feasible and ensures less post-operative complications (16% vs 21,2%) and recurrences (3% vs 16%) compared to the patients treated with direct muscular suture.     

Changing perspectives in surgical hand rehabilitation in quadriplegic patients.

Every motivated quadriplegic patient with resources for strong wrist extension, and lacking irreversible pathological features, is a candidate for reconstruction of at least a basic strong pinch. This basic pinch is better than that obtained with a prosthesis. We feel that this possibility exists in no less than 75 percent of our quadriplegic patients.     

鼻中隔软骨联合耳软骨雕塑鼻尖在假体隆鼻中应用效果

目的:探讨假体隆鼻时应用鼻中隔软骨联合耳软骨雕塑鼻尖的临床效果。方法:选取2013年1月至2014年3月在我院进行隆鼻术的患者98例,按照随机数表法将其分成对照组和实验组,每组49人。对照组患者采用单纯的假体隆鼻,实验组患者采用假体隆鼻并使用鼻中隔软骨联合耳软骨雕塑鼻尖。评价手术的满意程度及手术前后患者的鼻长、鼻尖高度、鼻尖角的变化情况。结果:实验组患者的治疗满意度为91.84%,明显高于对照组的40.82%,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。实验组患者术后鼻长、鼻尖高度、鼻尖角均优于手术前(P0.05),且显著优于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:应用鼻中隔软骨联合耳软骨雕塑鼻尖在假体隆鼻中具有良好的应用效果,满意度较高,值得在临床上推广使用。     

新型非骨水泥柄设计特征及临床应用效果

目的:探讨一种新型的适合于儿童的非骨水泥固定型股骨柄设计特征,并通过随访获得其临床效果。方法:选取2010年9月~2013年4月在我科植入新型非骨水泥股骨柄的6名儿童患者,其中男1例,女5例;年龄8.5±3.2岁(5~11岁)。病理诊断结果骨肉瘤患者5例,恶性神经鞘瘤患者1例;右股骨下端患者5例,左股骨下端患者1例;其中一例患者术前有病理骨折。6例患者在我科行双动半膝关节置换术,其中股骨下端均采用了新型非骨水泥假体柄。采用Enneking骨肌肉肿瘤置换后下肢功能评定标准对患肢行功能评价,影像学重点评估股骨柄在髓腔放置位置是否得当、股骨柄假体有无松动、有无应力遮挡、骨溶解等现象,并测量术后患者患肢短缩畸形数据。结果:6例患者随访时间32个月(14~54个月),除1例5岁女童术前肢体条件较差在术后14个月行膝关节融合手术,其余无翻修病例,置换关节均无感染、折断等现象。MSTS评分21.33分;射线片示所有患者股骨髓腔内假体柄放置位置满意,股骨侧及胫腓骨侧假体周围未见骨溶解。结论:新型非骨水泥固定型股骨柄设计合理,早期稳定性可,后期可取得满意的生物固定效果。     

Follow-up visits as a measure of adaptation process to removable prostheses

Objectives: The paper was aimed to establish the influence of some general and local factors on adaptation process to removable prostheses (RPs). The adaptation process is a complex issue, which is often associated with painful reactions. Those complaints force patients to visit a dentist who makes alterations to reduce the patient's discomfort. Material and methods: The study involved analysis of 300 dental records of patients who visited our Department for RPs. The authors analysed the influence of gender, age, condition of general health, maintenance of the prosthetic base tissues and the kind of prostheses on the process of adaptation. It was measured by means of a number of follow‐up visits of the patients to our polyclinic. The findings were analysed statistically by means of chi‐squared test. The level of significance was assumed to be p < 0.05. Results and conclusions: Adaptation to RPs without any correction was revealed by about one‐fifth of patients. Men adapted to RPs better than women. The biggest problems with adaptation to RPs were observed in patients using a complete and partial prosthesis simultaneously. The number of follow‐up visits by patients who were treated with RPs for the first time or had been treated before was almost the same. Adaptation of RPs on an atrophic muco‐osseous ridge was associated with more multiple visits than in the case of a well‐preserved ridge. Healthy patients adapt to RPs better than patients with systemic disorders. Taking into account the limitations of the study, the number of follow‐up visits may be used as a helpful indicator of the adaptation process.     

Wear analysis in anatomical and reversed shoulder prostheses

This paper describes the development of a computational model to calculate wear rates in total shoulder prostheses, for a 5–150 degrees arm abduction. Anatomical keeled and pegged prosthesis as well as reversed prosthesis were the studied implants. The bone models were built based on computed tomography (CT) images and using a computer aided design-based modelling pipeline. The finite element method was used to solve the contact problem between the surface of the polyethylene (PE) components and the corresponding articular component. The aim of this work was to determine linear and volumetric PE wear, for several radial mismatches, in conditions of pathological (rheumatoid arthritis) and non-pathological bone. Results showed that contact pressures and linear wear developed in anatomical prosthesis were higher than those visualised in reversed prosthesis. However, anatomical prosthesis exhibited a better volumetric wear performance. Moreover, our findings indicated higher values of volumetric wear in higher congruent models and on pathological bone conditions.     

Wear analysis in anatomical and reversed shoulder prostheses

This paper describes the development of a computational model to calculate wear rates in total shoulder prostheses, for a 5-150 degrees arm abduction. Anatomical keeled and pegged prosthesis as well as reversed prosthesis were the studied implants. The bone models were built based on computed tomography (CT) images and using a computer aided design-based modelling pipeline. The finite element method was used to solve the contact problem between the surface of the polyethylene (PE) components and the corresponding articular component. The aim of this work was to determine linear and volumetric PE wear, for several radial mismatches, in conditions of pathological (rheumatoid arthritis) and non-pathological bone. Results showed that contact pressures and linear wear developed in anatomical prosthesis were higher than those visualised in reversed prosthesis. However, anatomical prosthesis exhibited a better volumetric wear performance. Moreover, our findings indicated higher values of volumetric wear in higher congruent models and on pathological bone conditions.     

Edentulous patients' knowledge of dental hygiene and care of prostheses

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse denture users’ oral care habits with regard to the use of their prostheses. Background: Rehabilitative treatment is only successful when patients are motivated and aware of correct prosthesis use and hygiene. Materials and methods: Questionnaires were distributed to 150 complete denture users at the Federal University of Bahia School of Dentistry, the Esmeralda Natividade Health Center, the Bahian Science Development Foundation and a Salvador nursing home. The questionnaire included information on gender, age, length of prosthesis use, cleaning methods and materials, etc. The data were analysed using EpiInfo version 6 software. The chi‐squared test was used for statistical analysis, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Questionnaire results showed that 78% of the subjects, with an average age of 67.3 years, had used the same complete denture for over 5 years. 64% slept with their prostheses and 44% removed them from the mouth only for cleaning. None of the patients interviewed knew anything about brushes designed specifically for complete dentures. 37.3% had a restricted diet and 44% believed that a complete denture would last for more than 10 years. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the edentulous patients surveyed had limited awareness of prosthetic hygiene and long‐term oral care despite extended periods of denture use.